Bird of Prey ID please

TTony

Found this guy (or girl) in the garden this morning.

It's been roosting under shelter for a while and, only ever having seen its traces rather than the bird itself, we'd just assumed that it was a pheasant.

However, this morning it was  lying around and posed for the camera.

Just not sure what it is??




Any ideas?

(It did fly off soon after the photos were taken, so it's OK).

not_the_dj

Looks like a juvenile sparrow hawk to me...although the markings around the eyes it could be a Kestral. 

Alnico

That looks like a Kestrel.

TTony

We were thinking Peregrine from the face markings and tail shape - although, if it is, it's lost!

Kalimna

I reckon that might be a merlin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(bird)

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/merlin

not_the_dj

Young Kestrel

https://previews.123rf.com/images/tobyphotos/tobyphotos1308/tobyphotos130800003/21447647-kestrel-juvenile-face-to-face-after-the-last-meal-still-with-meat-on-the-beak-flew-the-juvenile-kest.jpg

Kalimna

Lovely to have those photo's btw

We get occasional pheasants in our garden, christened 'Sneaky the Pheasant' by my 5 yr old

Adam

Kalimna

the faint whitish line above it's eye isn't there on the kestrel, plus the breast feathers aren't yellow-ish enough (even for the juvenile).

And I don't think it is grey enough to be a peregrine.

Adam

darthed1981

That looks like a Buzzard to me, a young one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_buzzard

Alnico

Whatever it is its beautiful. 

CHRISB50

It looks like a kestrel to me. 

Btw, clean up all that bird shit!

Sporky

Magpie.

Ravenous

Impressive.

Maybe it was lying around like that trying to warm up in the sun?  Odd behaviour.

Fretwired

It looks like a young common buzzard .. we have quite a few where I live. See them all the time.

octatonic

Rocker

Looks like a young sparrow hawk to me. An adult often perches in our garden, presumably to rest. The other garden birds keep well hidden when he/she is about.

Iamnobody

https://youtu.be/LtTIQ0ySej4

Bygone_Tones

Definitely a Kestrel, a male.

Here is one similar:

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-common-kestrel-falco-tinnunculus-juvenile-male-on-fence-post-ibsley-163471724.html

When googling for images make sure you type in 'UK' or 'British' Kestrel. The american kestrel is quite a lot different.

btw that first photo is pretty funny. Not something you see everyday. What the hell was it doing?

VimFuego

I'd say probably a roc, or maybe a griffon.

failing that, a kestrel. 

chillidoggy

The way it’s laying on it’s back, I’m pretty sure it’s a local bird.

wibble

TTony said:

Draw me like one of your French girls